H.Con.Res. 207 (107th): Recognizing the important contributions of the Youth For Life: Remembering Walter Payton initiative and encouraging participation in this nationwide effort to educate young people about organ and tissue donation.

Recognizing the important contributions of the Youth For Life: Remembering Walter Payton initiative and encouraging participation in this nationwide effort to educate young people about organ and tissue donation.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 2001

Mr. LARGENT (for himself and Mr. BROWN of Ohio) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the important contributions of the Youth For Life: Remembering Walter Payton initiative and encouraging participation in this nationwide effort to educate young people about organ and tissue donation.

Whereas more than 76,000 men, women, and children currently await life-saving transplants;

Whereas every 14 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list;

Whereas people of all ages and medical histories are potential organ, tissue, and blood donors;

Whereas more than 2,300 of those awaiting transplants are under the age of 18;

Whereas approximately 14,000 children and young adults under the age of 18 have donated organs or tissue since 1988;

Whereas science shows that acceptance rates increase when donors are matched to recipients by age;

Whereas organ donation is often a family decision, and sharing a decision to become a donor with family members can help to ensure a donation when an occasion arises;

Whereas nationwide there are up to 15,000 potential donors annually, but consent from family members to donation is received for less than 6,000;

Whereas educating young people about organ and tissue donation promotes family discussions over the desire of family members to become organ donors;

Whereas Youth for Life: Remembering Walter Payton (in this concurrent resolution referred to as ‘Youth for Life’) is committed to educating young adults about organ donation and encouraging students to discuss this decision with their family and register to be organ donors;

Whereas the Youth for Life effort is dedicated to football legend Walter Payton, who broke the NFL career rushing record on October 7, 1984; and

Whereas Youth For Life: Remembering Walter Payton Day will be held on October 9, 2001: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--

(1) supports the goals and ideas of Youth For Life; and

(2) encourages all young people to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donations and to discuss these donations with their families and friends.